Process of continuously rolling sheet metal.



1. B. IVlcKIBBlN.

PROCESS OF CONTINUOUSLY ROLLING SHEET METAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. 1912.

LQLQSQ, Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET I.

1 INVJENTORI. I if 7!. fifi @AQA) WITNESS Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. B. McKlBBIN PROCESS OF CONTINUOUSLY ROLLING SHEET METAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. 191].

1,2LQ89M WITNESS J. B. McKlBBlN.

PROCESS OF CONTINUOUSLY ROLLING SHEET METAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. 1911.

11,281,039 Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

5 SHEETS -SHEET 3.

WITNESS M INVENTOR.

V J I I 0 Q L ,1 ujwm J. B. McKIBBIN, PROCESS OF CONTINUOUSLY ROLLING SHEET METAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30- I91].

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4 R O T N E V N liitiul .l

o PQQQQQ $5M M? Q 0 w WITNESS J. B. MCKIBBIN.

PROCESS OF commuousw ROLLING SHEET METAL.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-30.1917. 1mg, Patented 0ct.8,1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

UNITED STATE PATENT lHlFliGE,

JOHN B. MGKIBBIN, 0F GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TQ EDMONDS J'.'SUGDEN, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF CONTINUOUSLY RQLLZZNG SHEET METAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @et. 8, 191%.

Application filed .11 anuary 3Q, 1917. Serial No. 145,435.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN B. MGKIBBIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grafton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Continuously Rolling Sheet Metal, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved process or method of continuously rolling sheet metal and comprises the several connected steps of heating the metal, subjecting it to an edge rolling operation, a preliminary reducing rolling operation, doubling and flattening of the metal, a further rolling treatment, re-heating it in transit, and successively subjecting it to additional reducing, doubling-flattening, reheating and reducin steps successively and final rolling, where y to reduce an original slab to a plural thickness doubled pack form, ready for shearing.

It has in view to provide an improvement in the art of reducing sheet metal, whereby to reduce the cost, maintain uniform gage, efiect equalization of the temperature of the reducing rolls and their resulting action on the metal, and various other incidental advantages and improvements as shall be more fully hereinafter described.

Ordinarily the reduction of comparatively thin metal from bar, billet, or other form to sheets, strips, or any of the more usual forms in which thin gage metal is used, as for instance black plate, tin plate, or other similar forms, is by reducing the blanks to the desired gage in assembled single sheet form,

' and known as packs.

In such methods the resulting finally reduced lengths are comparatively short, and therefore have but partial contact with the entire area of the rolls, since the rolls only require a partial revolution to pass over a sheet length of such size. My invention has in view to reduce the metal continuously, in

a single continuous blank of abnormal length, whereby to secure the desirable uniformity of gage, economy, speed and any de sired practical length of doubled or re-doubled plates.

The operation involves and contemplates the action on the metal blank by a plurality of rolling or reducing operations, in connection with the intermittent re-application of heat, whereby to renew the original temperature of the blank and constantly maintain it in a reducible, ductile condition, especially in view of the comparatively thin gage to which the metal is being reduced, in connection with. doubling and flattening operations, whereby to finally produce a doubled or multi-doubled pack, of approximately a multiple length of the desired size for final use.

,By my process and improved apparatus the initial heat and ductility of the metal is thus maintained practically uniform from start to finish during the rolling or reduc; tion steps.

The process involves the passage of the blank as it comes from the reducing rolls and doubling mechanism, through a re-heating furnace so arranged and provided with guide mechanism as to insure the exposure of the metal to the heat for a considerable continuous period of time and at ,various levels or zones throughout its passage through the furnace or furnacesjbefore it emerges therefrom and is introduced into the next stand of rolls.

An especial advantage in the operation is that the blank is formed into an unusually long strip so that when rolled out, it is engaged by all portions of the periphery of the rolls of the mill, one or more times, the rolls being of such dimensions that they willv equal heating are apt to cause sticking or un- I equal reduction of the metal, especially when rolled inpacks, and by my invention I overcome any such tendency, and produce sheet metal of uniform gage and quality.

' One preferred arrangement of apparatus for carrying out my improved process is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 and 1 is a general planview in two parts, partly broken away and partly in section,, of a continuous mill and associated mechanism for carrying out the process.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation showing the preliminary heating furnace, edging rolls, initial three-high mill and tables, doubler, and a portion of the first ire-heating furnace.

-Fig. 3 is a plan view of the construction showri in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4; is a. detail view in elevation showing the edging rolls and feed rolls therefor, ad acent the slab-heating furnace.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation showing a battery of re-heating furnaces and their arrangement with relation to each other and to the first two-high mill, the second doubler, and the second two-high mill.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 5, partly in section.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view in elevation of the two step rolls of the three-high mill.

Fig. 8 is a view of the doubler in elevation, partly in section.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the doubler partly in section. v

Fig. 10 is a view of the doubler in end elevation, showing the gearing.

Fig. 11 is a cross-section on the line XI, XI, of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 1s a similar section on the line XII, XII, of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional detail view on the line XIII, XIII, of Fig. 9.

Fig. 14: is a detail view showing the clutch connection between the upper doubler roll and its driving mechanism.

The slab or blank from which the product is formed is substantially 3 feet long, by 24: inches wide, by inch thick, or of other suitable dimensions, adapting it for reduction to thin sheet or plate metal, in continuous strips of considerable length.

In the drawings, A represents the initial heating furnace in which the slabs are heated and conveyed through the furnace, as is usual in continuous heating furnaces, onto an inclined slide 2 at the end thereof.

Adjacent the discharge end of the furnace and said table is a continuous conveyer 8 of the sprocket chain t pe, which receives the slab edgewise and y which it is carried edgewise forwardly and through the edging rolls of the mill B, a curved guide 2 being provided to assist the setting-up location of the blank.

The housing for the edging rolls is provided at each side with drivenguiding rolls 4:, 4, in pairs, at each side of the housing, ar ranged vertically as shown and providing suflicient space between them for passage of the metal.

Grooved edging rolls 5, 5, are mounted by their journals 6 in suitable bearings, within the housing provided with the usual adjusting mechanism. The grooves of rolls 5 are adapted to engage the upper and lower edges of the blank under suflicient compression to reduce it to the desired width, removing any inequalities in the edges, and at the same time the action of theedging rolls and the rolls t removes any adhering scale.

The edging rolls are driven by suitable gearing 7 in the customary way fromv any the usual manner and connected with driv-' ing gearing 9, as is customary in such mills.

Each of the rolls 8 is provided with a plural face 8', 8", respectively, as shown in' Figs. 3 and 7, each face substantially corresponding to the normal width of the blank in one direction of rolling or another. The rolls are adjustable with relation to each other, whereby to space them apart the desired distance to efi'ect the reduction of the single thickness of metal and the reduction of the doubled thickness, as hereinafter described.

At each side of three-high mill is provided a feed table 9, 10, respectively, having series of driven feed rollers 11, 11 and 11*, 11, respectively, and gearing therefor (not shown, but of well-known construction).

Said tables are so connected by the raising and lowering mechanism as to operate together to locate the blank in its passage in register with the lower or upper passes. The raising and lowering mechanism may be of any desired or well-known construction, as a bell crank 12 connected with the table by link 13 and by connection 1 1 with each other, and by pitman 15 with the crank of an actuating shaft 16. Suitable gearing andclutch mechanism, also of Well-known construction is provided, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Each table is provided with the duplicate set of feed rolls 11, 11", and 11*, 11, respectively arranged in tandem relation to each series of faces 8 or 8 of the mill, whereby to feed the metal thereto as desired in one direction or another.

Beyond. the three-high mill and adjacent to the delivery table 10 thereof is the first doubler D. The function of this machine is to effect doubling of the blank after it has been reduced and elongated by the threehigh mill, and to also close it together at its middle portion by compression, whereby to bring the two faces of the blank into close folded relationship. This doubler is shown somewhat more fully on Sheet 5 of the drawings.

After preliminary reducing treatment between the rolls of mill 0, as hereinafter described, the reduced elongatedblank is introduced to doubler D and between the lower roll 17 and upper roll 18 thereof. These rolls are spaced apart merely enough to provide sufficient gripping engagement to feed the blank and roll 17 is adjustable with its bearings 19 toward roll 18 by a transmemes verse yoke 20 and lever 21 provided with a treadle 22.

Upper roll 18 is made removable, for the purpose of providing clearance for the flattening operation and removal of the doubled sheet, for which purpose it is connected with an actuating cylinder 23. Said cylinder is connected with a semi-cylindrical returning guide 24 surrounding the back portion of roll 18, leaving intervening clearance for passage of the sheet metal in its return movement, and a permanently mounted depressing guide 25 is arranged to register with the upper edge portion of guide 24 as shown in Fig. 11. Said guide 25 operates to guide the upper returned portion of the sheet downwardly over the lower portion.

Roll 18 is mounted to rotate on its supporting spindle 26, which, in turn is fixedly connected with the cylinder 23 and travels with it in one direction and the other.

The outer end of spindle 26 is tapered as at 27 and is adapted to fit within a correspondingly tapered socket 28 of a driving spindle 29. Said spindle 29 is rotatably mounted within suitable bearings 30 and 31 and is provided with a pinion 32 meshing with gear 33. The spindle 29 is adapted to be rotated by a gear wheel 34 secured thereon.- By this means the rolls 17 and 18 are actuated to feed the blank inwardly as delivered from the rolls 8 and cause it to reverse upon itself up to its middle portion, whereupon the feed rolls are opened, releasing the plate and stopping the feed.

The housing frame of doubler D is provided beyond said rolls with a fixed platen or table 35 above which is located a co-acting movable platen 36 forming the end portion of a cylinder 37 which is mounted upon and movable with relation to a fixed spindle 38 like spindle 39 of cylinder 23. Platen 36 is also provided with a forwardly extending toe projection 36 forming a part of cylinder 37. This projection extends over the double rounded portion of the blank or to about the center of the sheet reversing rolls 17, 18, and first engages the blank when the platen is lowered. By .this means the rounded bend is forced inwardly between table 35 and platen 36, insuring engagement by these parts.

Each of said spindles is provided with supply and exhaust pipes 40 and 41 respectively, leading through the spindle 38--39 to one side and the other of the relatively stationary piston head 42. By this means, upon admission of fluid pressure to one or the other side of said piston head, cylinder 23 or 37 may be positively actuated in one direction or the other.

Each cylinder is provided with slidable bearing mounting mechanism, cylinder 23 being movable alon the top of a bed plate 23-, while cylinder 3 is provided with crossteeth 44 at the end of roller 18, whereby to rotate it when the roller is in operative, position, in conformity with the co-actmg roller 17.

Beyond the doubler D are located the reheating furnaces E E although but one such ire-heating furnace may be used if desired. These are of the general type shown in my prior application for process of manufacturlng sheet metal, filed Nov. 13, 1915, Ser. No.

The-furnace comprises a rectangular cas-.

ing of brickwork with suitable fuel-supply and circulation through the interior, and several series of progressing or carrying rollers 45, extending across the interior of the furnace from one side to the other.

These rollers are provided with gearing 46 by which all the rollers of one series are actuated together in the same direction, the successive series of rollers at varying levels being actuated in the same way and alternating in the opposite direction throughout the entire several series of carrying rollers within the heating furnace.

Terminal feed rollers 47 are provided with suitable reversing guides 47 at each end of the furnace whereby to feed'the metal as it emerges from the end of'the furnace from. one series of rolls backwardly through another adjacent series, and so on, until the blank has been caused to traverse the furnace lengthwise, for a sutlicient period of time to re-heat, finally emerging from the end opposite the entrance end, at a higher or lower level.

The advantage in providing a pair of such reheating furnaces as shown, is that the metal eventually passes out of the end of the second reheating furnace at the same level at which it entered the first furnace.

A suitable bridge 48 is provided between the furnaces, and a similar receiving table or bridge 49 receives the strip of metal in its passage toward the next reducing mill F. Said mill is two-high, having continuously driven single pass rolls, 50, 50, mounted by their terminals in suitable bearings and driven by any convenient means of wellknown construction. 1

Beyond the two-high mill F is a stationary roller table 51, having a series of driven rollers 52 by which the metal is fed to a second doubler G, similar in construction and operation to doubler D, above described. By doubler G, the blank previously doubled by doubler D, and as further reduced by rolls 50, is again doubled and flattened or creased at its middle bending point, providing a 4- ply pack. The pack in such form is then passed through the doubler Gr over a bridge or table 53 to a two-high mill H, similar to mill F, having rolls 54, 54:, and suitable actuating mechanism, as shown in Fig. 1.

Beyond the two-high mill H, I locate a second pair of reheating furnaces I, I, of the same construction and manner of operation as furnaces E, E, through which the fourply pack is caused to travel, becoming again re-heated, after which it is introduced to the rolls of a third two-high mill J, like mills F and H. The 4-ply pack is here further reduced and passes therefrom over the rolls of a feed table 55 to a third doubler K where it is again doubled and flattened and formed into an 8-ply pack. Such pack is then passed through the rolls of a fourth twohigh mill L, driven as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring somewhat more in detail to the several operations described, and assuming the blank to have passed through the edging rolls 5, 5, of the mill B on to the first series of receiving feed rollers 11 of table 9, it falls over or is laid fiatwise thereon and progresses toward the alined faces 8 of the middle and lower rolls 8 of mill C. Passing through these rolls, the single thickness blank receives its first reduction in thickness and passes on to the feed rollers 11 of table 10.

The tables are then elevated, bringing them into register with the upper pass, whereupon the single blank is then reversed in direction, passing between the faces 8 of the middle and upper roll 8 and being received again on rollers 11.

.The blank is then shifted'edgewise laterally therefrom to feed rollers 11 of table 9 and, the table being lowered. is by them introduced to the faces 8 of the middle and lower roll where a further reduction takes place, the blank passing through and on to feed rollers 11 of table 10, and by them introduced to the first doubler D.

The-blank having been fed through by rollers 17, 18, thereof, just one half its length, whereby to effect doubling in the middle, these rolls are opened up and upper roll 18 with its guide 24.- is withdrawn bycylinder 23 moving along on top of the bed plate 23 by the dovetail engagement therewith, as shown in Fig. 12.

Platen 36 is then lowered upon the rounded or doubled connecting portion of the blank, flattening it upon platen 35 and bringing the two faces of the blank closely to gether. The doubled or 2-ply packv is then fed baekthrough the upper pass of mill C, and returned through the lower pass, being further reduced.

The pack is then progressed by feed rollers 11 through the opened space of the doubler, piston 36 having been raised, across bridge 6, entering between the first pair of feed rollers 47* of the first re-heating furnace E. 3

In its passage through the re-heating furnace the blank is re-heated and is then introduced to mill F. Thereafter the opera-- tions of rolling, doubling, rolling, reheating, and again rolling, doubling and rolling, are repeated, the pack finally emerging from the last rolling treatment in finished doubled 8-ply pack form.

These various steps effect a gradual reduction of the thickness with corresponding elongation, without any substantial change in the width.

It will be understood that the continuous blank may be doubled, reheated, and reduced any desired number of times within the limitations of practicable treatment; that the successive rollin operations reduce the gage or thickness uni ormly throughout; that the re-heating steps efi'ect the maintenance of the necessary ductility; and that the final packchanic or designer to suit the'conditions of, manufacture as to gage, dimenslons, etc.,

within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. The herein described process of rolling sheet metal consisting in subjecting a single continuous heated blank to a series of rolling operations, doubling and rolling the blank, re-heating the blank and subjecting it to reverse bending, and again rolling and doubling it, while maintaining integral continuitv of the blank.

2; The herein described process of-rolling sheet metal consisting in subjecting a single continuous heated blank to an edge rolling treatment and then to a series of rolling operations, doubling and again rolling the blank, reheating it, and again rolling and doubling it, while maintaining integral continuity of the blank.

3. The hereindescribed process of rolling sheet metal consisting in elongating and reducing the thickness of an original single continuous heated blank and doubling and re-doubling it upon itself alternately between successive reducing treatments, and renewing the original heat and ductility of the sheet'ancl subjecting it to reverse bending during treatment and between successive. steps thereof, While maintaining integral continuity of the blank.

i. The herein clescribetl proeess of telling sheet metal consisting in elongating am P8- tlneing the thickness of original single eentinuons heated blank, doubling saitl blank itself, forming a two-ply pack, reheatsaicl two-ply pack anol subjecting it to bending treatment, further elongating anol reciucing said pack, again cloubling saiol twonaclt to form a tent-ply pack, further elongating ancl reclucing saicl feet-ply pack, again reheating saitl pack, anl 6 ongating anal reducing said tour-ply pack ancl dcnbling it forming; an eight-ply pack, While maintaining integral continuity 0f the blank, substantially as described.

5., The herein described p ecess rolling sheet metal consisting in erolling, elongating and reducing the t ness of an original sin le continuous blank,

doubling said blank upon itself, forming a two-ply pack, anal further doubling said pack a plurality of times, saicl pack being successively heated, elongated and reduced before each doubling operation, While maintaining integi'al continuity of the blank, substantially as olescnibetli 6. The herein described process of rolling sheet metal consisting elongating anol redueling the thickness of an original single continuous heateol blank, doubling saiol blank upon itself, forming a two-ply pack, and further doubling saiol pack a plurality of times, saiol pack being successively heateol with accompanying benoling, elongated antl reoluceol before each doubling operation, saicl blank being in motion at all times except when astested icidoubling, maintaining its eri inal integral continuity,

an testimony whereof ll hereunto signature 

